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Characterization of Mycoviruses in Armillaria ostoyae and A. cepistipes in the Czech Republic

Summary

Researchers in the Czech Republic discovered five new viruses infecting Armillaria mushroom fungi that cause root rot in trees. These viruses could potentially be used as biological control agents to reduce tree disease. The study found that some viruses can spread between different Armillaria species, suggesting they move naturally through forest ecosystems.

Background

Armillaria species are widespread forest pathogens causing root rot in economically important trees and crops. Czech forests of Norway spruce are suffering generalized decline enhanced by pathogenic fungi like Armillaria. Mycoviruses with hypovirulence-inducing ability could serve as potential biocontrol agents against these pathogens.

Objective

To confirm the occurrence of mycoviruses in Armillaria isolates from Central Europe and describe their genomic features and phylogenetic relationships. The study aimed to detect and characterize viruses in Armillaria species collected in the Czech Republic through stranded total RNA sequencing.

Results

Five single-stranded RNA viruses were detected: one tymovirus and four ambiviruses with circular ambisense genomes. Both hammerhead and hairpin ribozymes were identified in all ambiviricot sequences. One ambivirus was found to infect both A. ostoyae and A. cepistipes, suggesting interspecies transmission in nature.

Conclusion

The study confirms the presence of mycoviruses in Czech Armillaria populations. The potential effects of these viruses on infected hosts and their ability for intra- and interspecies transmission warrant further investigation for biocontrol applications.
  • Published in:Viruses,
  • Study Type:Molecular Characterization Study,
  • Source: PMID: 38675951, DOI: 10.3390/v16040610
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